Policy & Advocacy

In advocating on behalf of children with exceptionalities, CEC examines policy issues, develops appropriate responses to those issues and influences local, state, provincial and federal legislation. CEC also monitors and makes recommendations for program regulations and funding. In addition, CEC maintains a network among its units for influencing policy.

Standards

As the recognized leader for special education professional standards, CEC develops standards, ethics and practices and guidelines to ensure that individuals with exceptionalities have access to well-prepared, career-oriented special educators.

Membership

Through the vision and dedication of more than 22,000 members, CEC sets the standard for high quality education for children and youth with exceptionalities. And, CEC is known as THE source for information, resources and professional development for special educators.

Professional Development

You’ll find professional development offerings to meet the needs of all special educators – including those of you who are time-crunched, cost-conscious or in need of CEUs in order to meet state obligations. Please join us and invite others to engage the potential!

Special Ed Topics

Special Education Topics includes information about the different exceptionality areas; international special education; hot topics in special education; and professional practice topics such as assessment, evidence-based practices and inclusion.

Real-World Co-Teaching at the Elementary Level

In collaboration with the Division of Learning Disabilities (DLD)

Thursday, Sept. 18
4-5 p.m. ET

At the elementary level, co-teaching is driven by the Common Core (or other) State Standards and whole-class instruction. This webinar takes familiar co-teaching models (e.g., station teaching, parallel teaching) and gives specific examples of how to co-teach in those contexts using evidence-based strategies such as mnemonics, graphic organizers, instruction in study skills and note taking. Preparing for classroom instruction, monitoring students’ progress, assessing outcomes, and differentiating instruction will be emphasized.

Collaborate more effectively with co-teaching partners in elementary classrooms

Locate and use additional resources on effective co-teaching at the elementary school level

Presenter:

Laurie U. deBettencourt, Ph.D., is professor and program lead for special education in the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. Her recent research concentrates on the special education labor market and its implications for policymakers and educators. She has focused on teacher certification, especially alternative routes to certification. In particular, she has focused most of her recent research efforts on improving the induction of beginning special education teachers into the classroom. She is editor of Teacher Education and Special Education and has co-authored several textbooks and written numerous articles related to instruction of students with mild to moderate disabilities. She has conducted workshops for teachers around the county on teaching study skills to students in mixed ability classes. She serves currently as Vice President of CEC’s Division of Learning Disabilities.